Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-08-08

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Friday, 08/08/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus Government protests against accord between Turkey and pseudostate. Turkish move criticized internationally
• [02] National Council decides on Greek Cypriot participation in direct talks
• [03] Second round of UN sponsored talks in Glion-Sur-Montreux between 11-16 August
• [04] New Greek Ambassador presents credentials

[01] Cyprus Government protests against accord between Turkey and pseudostate. Turkish move criticized internationally

Mr Kasoulides expressed grave concern at the provocative Turkish move to the UN envoy and the ambassadors in Nicosia of the five permanent members of the Security Council.

In Washington State Department Spokesman James Rubin criticised the Turkish move saying: óWe do not think this announcement was helpful, and we don't want to see any steps taken which undermine the UN negotiation process or which move toward the permanent partition of the islandò.

Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokesman expressed yesterday his country's disappointment at the Turkish move which is contrary to international law and UN resolutions on Cyprus. The Russian Spokesman referred to the hopes created by the good climate of the UN sponsored direct talks and said that the recent Turkish announcement does not reflect in any way the hopes of the international community in relation to the possibility of progress in the direct talks.

British High Commissioner in Nicosia David Madden said the agreement was an óunhelpful developmentò. It also amounted to a distraction, he said, and stressed that everyone should instead be concentrating on the efforts to reach a negotiated Cyprus settlement.

Moreover, Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that Turkish policy leads to nowhere and reminded Turkey that such moves do not contribute towards her European orientation.

Greece's National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos described the agreement between Turkey and the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime as ósheer blackmail by Ankara against the European Unionò.

Tsohatzopoulos said it was part of Turkey's efforts to impede the process for the accession of the Cyprus Republic to the EU. óAccession however cannot be obstructed by such blackmailò, he added.

Moreover, a spokesman for the European Commission stressed that the continuation of the direct talks for reaching a just solution to the Cyprus issue is a priority for the European Council and Commission.

Furthermore, political party leaders in Cyprus reacted strongly to the Turkish move and said that Turkey's aim is to consolidate the status-quo on the island.

Some Turkish Cypriot politicians and newspapers also expressed disapproval at the signing of this agreement.

[02] Second round of UN sponsored talks in Glion-Sur-Montreux between 11-16 August

The face-to-face negotiations, under UN envoy Diego Gordovez, will begin on August 11 and conclude five days later.

According to a UN announcement released yesterday, the meetings will be held at the 4-star Righi Vaudois Hotel in Glion-Sur-Montreux, óthanks to the generosity of the Swiss governmentò.

óThe objective is for the parties to craft new constitutional and institutional structures which would allow the people of both Cypriot communities to live together in peaceò, the UN statement said.

The announcement reminds of the UN Secretary-General's opening statement at the Troutbeck talks, during which he proposed the start of a process of negotiations óleading to the incremental construction of the juridical framework within which the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities will forge a new partnershipò.

[03] National Council decides on Greek Cypriot participation in direct talks

In his statement, Government Spokesman Manolis Christophides said that the political leadership has óexamined in detail issues relating to strategy and appropriate ways to handle the situationò.

The Spokesman added that the political leaders óalso studied developments as these have emerged after the agreement between Ankara and the pseudostate and took decisions on the matter for short-term and long term objectivesò.

[04] New Greek Ambassador presents credentials

Rodousakis who presented his letters of credence to President Glafcos Clerides yesterday, said that the Greek side will make every effort to salvage the UN-led direct talks despite Turkish efforts to undermine attempts for a settlement.

The Greek Ambassador pledged to óenhance and further develop all bilateral ties with Cyprusò and pointed out that the Greco-Cypriot defence pact óis an integral element of Greek defence policyò.

In his remarks, President Clerides said that Greece stands by Cyprus in its effort to find a negotiated settlement. óNicosia and Athens, in close co- operation, have already decided jointly how to wage the struggle for justice in Cyprusò, he added.

The President noted that the perfect co-operation between the two countries shows that both are working together to promote common principles.

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From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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